Lakewood girls golf team places a program-best fourth at Division 3 state tournament

Saturday

Oct 19, 2013 at 6:09 PM

The Vikings shot a two-day total of 733 at Grand Valley State's The Meadows to finish fourth. They carded a 356 on Saturday and shaved off 21 stokes from Friday's total. Sophomore Emily Barker finished ninth overall with a 173 after rounds of 89 and 84.

By Dean Holzwarth

Entering Saturday’s final round of the Division 3 state tournament, the Lakewood girls golf team was motivated to improve on its previous day’s score while moving up the leader board.

The Vikings accomplished both feats and made school history.

Lakewood placed a program-best fourth with a two-day total of 733 at Grand Valley State’s The Meadows.

It was the Vikings’ second straight trip to the state finals. They finished 10th a year ago.

Detroit Country Day won its first state title with a 707 and won in a fifth-score tiebreaker over Bloomfield Hills Crankbrook-Kingswood. Spring Lake took third with a 719.

“This was our best season and the highest finish for a boys or girls team (at Lakewood),” Lakewood coach Carl Kutch said. “These kids have put so much extra time in, not only in the offseason but often times staying after and working on their games, and it’s just fun to see.

“We talked on the way over today about minimizing the trouble holes and trying to find ways to play a little smarter on each hole, to learn something from Friday.”

Sophomore Emily Barker finished among the top ten individuals. She was ninth overall with a 173 after rounds of 89 and 84.

“I feel like the hard work I put in all season paid off,” Barker said. “It just solidifies everything I did this season. To have this medal around my neck feels good, and our team did great today.”

Barker got up-and-down for par on No. 12 and No. 13 and then rolled in a 20-foot downhill putt on her final hole of the day, the par-5 14th.

“I’m happy with my score,” Barker said. “I did better than yesterday (Friday), and that was my goal. I’m proud to say that I got an 84, but it’s kind of bittersweet because it’s the last tournament I’ll ever play with my sister, Olivia.”

Junior Kennedy Hilley carded a 90 on Saturday and finished at 184. Olivia Barker, a senior, posted a 185 and wrapped up a banner high school career with a 93.

The Vikings also got a boost from their two other seniors, Bryonna Barton and Victoria Hager.

“To my shoot my personal record, here at state, and the day it was, it was really nice,” Barton said. “It was our last round, and we wanted to make it count and make it memorable. That’s what we did.”

Hager also played well, and her 92 was a 10-stroke improvement from Friday.

“It feels good, and I’m proud of my team,” Hager said. “I think today we felt like whatever happens, happens, and let’s go out and play our best because it’s our last round of golf.”

Kutch said it was important to send the seniors out with a lofty finish.

“We have three seniors, this was their last opportunity for competitive high school golf, and we said that we were going to dedicate this one to them,” he said. “Bryonna and Victoria had really strong rounds and I was really happy for them.”